Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Coldfacts — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 16:37:44 GMT

"Home track, has had a good rest and Mike Smith rides him very well."

GOOD had home track advantage in 2012 when he finished 7th.

Declaration of war has been rested for 73 days while GOD has been rested 69 days. One his a 4YO and one is a 6YO.

Mike Smith rode the 6YO Zenyatta to a 2nd place finish in the 2010 BCC.

Finishing 3rd in the 2010 BCC was Fly Down who finished 2nd in 2010 the Belmont that saw GOD finishing 4th.

GOD has a not been accustom to winning the big ones. He was 4th in the Belmont and 2nd in the 2011 BCC. He was not good enough to win the Belmont. He was not good enough to win the BCC as a 4YO.

Is he really expected to win the BCC as a 6YO?

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

steve from st louis — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 16:35:44 GMT

I like the four pounds Will Take Charge gets. Trevor will have to replay his Zenyatta call "...this...is...unbelivable!"

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

itishpol — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:44:00 GMT

i'm new to the breeder's cup statistics. how many races have had women trainers and how many have won. I hope all come back sound and healthy. my picks from an uneducated point of view are princess of Sylmar, dec.of war, paynter

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

lunar spook — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:10:14 GMT

MARY- I agree with u on declaration of war, if this horse can take to the dirt surface look out , I find it interesting that Obrien bypassed the turf races to enter him in the classic , must feel something , however I cant go along with u on Moreno , he will melt down in the stretch to a hot pace !

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Greg R — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:56:07 GMT

Only one of them can win it, so one of them will probably be second again!!

If the three gentlemen don't win the Classic, they still have chances in other races. I have the feeling Baffert will have a good BC, even if the Dude misses. If forced to pick a longshot for BC, I'd pick his Secret Circle in the Sprint. He was off the radar for so long, but this sparkplug of a horse might be the most naturally talented sprinter in the field, which is weird coming from Eddington, an oversized, galumphing galloper. There are no Artaxes or Speightstowns in this year's Sprint, so a "dark horse" has a great shot.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Mary — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 01:58:35 GMT

Declaration of War and Moreno, my picks.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

edrul427 — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:42:01 GMT

It is going to be a shame that any of them have to lose this important race .They all have extraordinary horses and as we all know not always the best horse wins a race for causes beyond their control.But anyway good and safe race to all.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

LanceS — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:24:31 GMT

Specific to the Classic, I'd love to get 12-1 on Flat Out!

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

LanceS — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:23:18 GMT

I've come up with an interesting BC trivia question. This year Tiznow, Tizbud, and Tizso each has an offspring entered in BC races. Has there ever been three full siblings all with offspring in the same Breeders' Cup before?

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

mz — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 17:50:42 GMT

Datflippi rabbit: Arazi

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

prudofrompuertorico — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 17:24:15 GMT

To win any race is really difficult, to win a stakes race, degree of difficulty increases many times,graded races many more times. My point; any race with multiple Grade 1 winners, no easy task to be on the board. Safe trip to all.

Thank you for an excellent article.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Stellar Jayne — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:48:49 GMT

Steve,

Thanks for the thoughtful review. Basically, I just want them all to come home sound they all (the horses) deserve to win, but in my heart-of-hearts it is MMM all the way. But time has taught me the least expected horse comes through and shines on the given day.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Rusty Weisner — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 16:17:17 GMT

Steve Haskin,

Always a timely column. I was just wondering yesterday what O'Brien's record was in the Classic.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Shelby's Best Pal — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:59:02 GMT

I hope the third time is the "charm" for the Dude.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Coldfacts — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:25:54 GMT

Kindly ignore the last three paragraphs of my 28 Oct 2013 11:33 PM post at they should have been deleted.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

datflippinrabbit — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 08:26:23 GMT

The Irish horse starting for the first time on dirt to win the BC Classic.Hummm i doubt that,however the euros are always deadly on the turf.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

The Deacon — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 06:31:46 GMT

I believe that it is Game On Dudes time.......just a feeling. Home track, has had a good rest and Mike Smith rides him very well.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Coldfacts — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 03:33:02 GMT

When Declaration of War enters the BCC starting gates it will be 73 days between races.

If he were being trained by an American trainer he would be an automatic toss for me due to the length of time between races.

Aidan Obrien is simply brilliant at preparing horses to perform off long respites.

Master Of Hounds contested the BC Juvenile Turf on 11/06/2011 and finished 6th. His next start was 140 days later on the 03/26/2012 in the UAE Derby where he lost by a NS.

His next start was on 05/07/2012 in the Kentucky Derby where he finished 5th.

Master Of Hounds made one start in 181 days prior to contesting America's premier race for 3YOs and that start was in Dubai.

He used the similar program for Lines Of Battle who finished 7th in the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Over the years Aidan O'Brien has shipped the likes of Giants Causeway, Hold That Tiger, Hawk Wings, Galileo and others to contest one of America's premier G1 race on dirt.

The above mentioned horses competed against America best at significant disadvantages. They were all from a different time zone and raced exclusively on turf.

Of the four trainers cited, he is the most deserving of a victory. H has been the foreign based trainer that has been most supportive of the BCC despite repeated disappointments.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Is it Their Time?

Paula Higgins — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 01:51:40 GMT

My heart is with MMM and Kathy Ritvo. This is a horse and a woman who have persevered through thick and thin. They deserve it for many reasons. After MMM, Paynter and Game On Dude are my next 2 picks. I would be deliriously happy to see Paynter win it as well, but I just don't think that will happen. He fought the fight of his life and won. That will always be his most important victory. But if Bob Baffert won, I would be happy for him too.He had a very tough year last year. I would love to see something really good happen for him. The bottom line is that I just want them all to come home safe and may the best horse win. Pletcher has won enough this year LOL. I mean seriously, this must be the ONLY thing he hasn't won.